%A Kurashima,Yosuke %A Yamamoto,Daiki %A Nelson,Sean %A Uematsu,Satoshi %A Ernst,Peter B. %A Nakayama,Toshinori %A Kiyono,Hiroshi %D 2017 %J Frontiers in Immunology %C %F %G English %K Intestinal Stem Cells,Peripheral education,Fibroblasts,mucosal healing,mesenchymal cells %Q %R 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01787 %W %L %M %P %7 %8 2017-December-13 %9 Mini Review %+ Prof Hiroshi Kiyono,Division of Mucosal Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo,Japan,kiyono@ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp %+ Prof Hiroshi Kiyono,Division of Clinical Vaccinology, International Research and Development Center for Mucosal Vaccines, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo,Japan,kiyono@ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp %+ Prof Hiroshi Kiyono,Chiba University-UC San Diego Center for Mucosal Immunology, Allergy, and Vaccines (CU-UCSD cMAV),Unites States,kiyono@ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp %+ Prof Hiroshi Kiyono,Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University,Japan,kiyono@ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp %# %! Mucosal mesenchymal cells for intestinal homeostasis %* %< %T Mucosal Mesenchymal Cells: Secondary Barrier and Peripheral Educator for the Gut Immune System %U https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2017.01787 %V 8 %0 JOURNAL ARTICLE %@ 1664-3224 %X Stromal connective tissue contains mesenchymal cells, including fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, which line the tissue structure. However, it has been identified that the function of mesenchymal cells is not just structural—they also play critical roles in the creation and regulation of intestinal homeostasis. Thus, mucosal mesenchymal cells instruct intestinal immune cell education (or peripheral immune education) and epithelial cell differentiation thereby shaping the local environment of the mucosal immune system. Malfunction of the mesenchymal cell-mediated instruction system (e.g., fibrosis) leads to pathological conditions such as intestinal stricture.